» Home Repairs: Wonders of Glue Guns

Home crafters already value glue guns for making all manner of projects in all manner of media ranging from paper and silk flowers to fabric, buttons, and bows. With this in mind, its not surprising to find that do-it-yourselfers have begun to utilize glue guns for help in home repairs, both permanent and temporary. The ultimate beauty of this tool is that it’s very cost friendly, easy to use, and you can buy one nearly anywhere. When I bought one recently, the glue gun and 25 glue sticks cost under $5.00 total. This supply lasts me months, even if I dip into it for a craft project or two.

The least expensive glue guns have only one temperature. However, if you’re planning to use one in a variety of situations, you may want to spend the extra for a high-low temperature glue gun. The lower temperatures are good for fragile or heat sensitive materials. For example, if you have a small patch of peeling wallpaper, the lower temperature glue seems to do a better job. It doesn’t discolor the paper, and bonds quickly with the wall. Wood, on the other hand, bonds better with hotter glue.

So what type of problems can your glue gun help repair? Well, how about that one corner of upholstery that’s come loose from the dining room chair? Yep, you can glue it in place in under 7 minutes including the time it takes to heat up the gun! Or, maybe the bottom edge of your curtains has come loose – hemming nearly anything is very easy with a glue gun. I’ve also glued floor edging back in place temporarily until I could find proper nails or tacks, fixed rough edges on carpeting (or carpet backings), supported cracked plastic fixtures long enough to shop for a replacement, and even repaired book bindings. In all these examples, the small nozzle of the glue gun keeps things tidy.

Some words of caution. For those of you who have never used these before, it’s called a HOT glue gun for a reason. Even on low, the glue will burn your skin very quickly as will the tip of the glue gun. So watch your hands and don’t be tempted to touch the glue until it’s cooled (this only takes about 90 seconds). Also, sometimes a little residual glue comes out of the gun after you’re done pressing the trigger. If you keep a scrap piece of cardboard nearby, you can put the glue gun on it and let that excess drip off safely.